Father’s Day in San Francisco: 13 Events to Celebrate Dad
Father’s Day Sunday is right around the corner, so it’s time to gear up for the fatherly festivities. If you’re feeling a pang of anxiety because you totally forgot and haven’t planned anything yet, fret not–you’re in excellent hands. There are tons of great activities going on in San Francisco and the entire Bay Area for this Father’s Day weekend; the only thing that you should worry about is how you’ll manage to do them all.
From pirates to food trucks, there is an eclectic variety of options to help you make this the funnest Father’s Day ever. Scroll down for the best things to make this Father’s Day your best-planned yet.
Related: San Francisco Entertainment & Events Guide: June 2017
Father’s Day Events on Saturday, June 17th
Fly High → Let your spirits soar at this colorful, family-friendly festival celebrating kites. This free, all-day event features a free build-your-own-kite booth, hands-on learning from kite experts, a kite art exhibition, giant kites, mega team flying, Taiko drummers, and food trucks.
Presidio Kite Festival | Presidio, Main Parade Ground, 103 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA | Saturday, June 17th: 12PM-5PM | Free
Go Fishing → Join rangers and experienced local anglers on Father’s Day weekend to learn all the insider secrets of fishing from a pier. A limited amount of poles will be available on a first come, first-served basis. This family-friendly event welcomes all ages and skill levels–no experience is necessary. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will provide the bait, so you just need to bring your father. A valid California fishing license is required when fishing from the shore, not from the pier.
Learn How to Pier Fish | Paradise Beach Park, 3450 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA | Saturday, June 17th: 10AM-12PM | Free
Pirate’s Life for Dad → The Northern California Pirate Festival has one goal: To create an entertaining event where everyone who loves pirates will have a great time. This two day festival is perfect for anyone who loves pirates. So bring your dad, an eyepatch, and maybe a parrot.
Northern California Pirate Festival | Vallejo Waterfront Park, 298 Mare Island Way, Vallejo, CA | Saturday & Sunday, June 17th-18th: 10AM-6PM | $12, free for children
Father’s Day Events on Sunday, June 18th
Dads and Giraffes → The San Francisco zoo is offering free admission to all the dads who visit the Zoo with their children. There will be live music performances by Steel Jam from 12:00-3:00 pm in The Depot, located near the Pachyderm Building. There will be a great grilled food and refreshing beverages sure to please dad. And because Father’s Day weekend falls on the longest weekend of the year, the Zoo & Gardens will be highlighting the animal with the longest neck. To commemorate World Giraffe Day, Sunday will also be a day of giraffe education.
Celebrate Giraffes and Dads | San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd & Great Highway, San Francisco, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 10AM-6PM | Free
Auto this World → This non-competitive, open-class invitational exhibition will showcase more than 150 early and late model autos spanning almost 100 years of production, from national champions, to local favorites, to one-of-a-kind collector curiosities. Be sure to roll by with papa.
27th Annual Father’s Day Invitational Auto Show | V Marketplace, 6525 Washington Street, Yountville, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 10AM-3PM | Free
Go Off the Grid → Your favorite weekly food truck extravanganza is a perfect outing to take your father figure. Enjoy the serene Presidio, lounge on the field, feast on food, and sip on your favorite beverages.
Off the Grid Presidio Picnic | Presidio, Main Parade Grounds, 103 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 11AM-4PM | Free
Walk and Gawk → Take your dad out for a walk on the town for Father’s Day. SF City Guides will be hosting walking tours throughout The City. As such, this is a great way to engage SF, get in some exercise, learn more history, study architecture, and bond with dad. San Francisco City Guides will be offering 17 free guided walking tours. Highlights include, Billionaire’s Row, Outer Broadway Architecture, Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco, Gold Rush City, and Victorian San Francisco.
17 Free Guided Walking Tours | All over San Francisco | Sunday, June 18th: 10AM-7PM | Free
Related: 9 Best Hiking Trails in the San Francisco Bay Area
Be Worldy → Get out of The City and into the Silicon Valley to experience the whole world. Happening for the 9th time ever, Palo Alto World Music Day is a music festival that takes place every year on Father’s Day. Traffic will be closed for the event, so this is a chance to experience Palo Alto like never before. Head to the event for music and festivities, then you can stroll the avenue and shop, eat, and grab a cocktail.
World Music Day Block Party | University Avenue, Downtown Palo Alto, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 3PM-7:30PM | Free
Boats and Bubbles → Because nothing says Father’s Day quiet like beer, buffets, and boats. Hornblower’s Father’s Day Beer Brunch Cruise will feature an enticing buffet, free-flowing beer, and a keepsake pint glass on their two hour yacht cruise. You’ll even get a keepsake photo, so be sure to spruce up.
Beer Brunch Cruise | Departs from Pier 3, Embarcadero at Washington Street, San Francisco, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 10:30AM | $50-$87
Fly High, Again → Make the most out of Father’s Day by making a field trip to the East Bay’s Oakland Aviation Museum. Sunday will be Open Cockpit Day, so you and Dad can experience a Korean War MiG-15 like never before.
Open Cockpit Day | Oakland Aviation Museum, 5252 Earhart Rd., Oakland, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 12PM-4PM | $5-$10
Be Jazzy → Head to the Historic Dunsmuir Hellman Estate to show how much you appreciate your father. Enjoy live musical, food, games, contest, raffles, gifts, and more.
Dads and Jazz Father’s Day Festival | Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 2PM-6PM | $5, free for kids 12 and under
Related: 11 Inspiring Art Exhibits in San Francisco Right Now
Take Dad Out to the Ballgame →West Coast battles the East. Our Oakland baseball team will be going against the New York Yankees this Sunday. There’s no better way to commemorate Father’s Day than with an afternoon at the ballpark. Treat him to a game, some ballpark bites, and beer. With the East Bay’s sunny weather, this is sure to be a cheerful day.
Oakland A’s versus New York Yankees | Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 1PM | $15-$91
Get Smart → Make Father’s Day educational and fun. The UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley presents Animals of the Garden Discovery Day, a family-friendly interactive event that explores the intersection of plants and animals. You’ll study plant-eating bugs to bug-eating plants, see animals that are aquatic, terrestrial, subterranean, and aerial. There will be Discovery Stations around the Garden presented by Garden Docents including interactive craft tables, live insects, amphibians, butterflies, and more.
Animals of the Garden Discovery Day | University of California Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA | Sunday, June 18th: 11AM-3PM | $7-$12
